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Master's Hat

Master's Hat

  • Western

    Votes: 26 30.2%
  • Dress hat

    Votes: 34 39.5%
  • Don't care

    Votes: 26 30.2%

  • Total voters
    86

tom268

Registered User
In my jurisdiction, grand lodge fixed the style of dress for every brother, not only the WM. Black suit or Tail, white bowtie and top hat, as it is seen in my avatar picture.
 

Benton

Premium Member
...and top hat, as it is seen in my avatar picture.

So all brothers are covered in the lodge? In US Masonry, only the WM is allowed to wear a hat, and he in fact is required. Everyone else is uncovered during lodge.
 

tom268

Registered User
In my jurisdiction, all brothers are covered, and it is required. In other jurisdictions, it is more a matter of lodge tradition, and it seems to be a matter of location too. In northern Germany, many lodges require a top hat (no other hat-styles allowed), in the south, it is not common. But it is always either all brothers are covered or no brother. Only the lodges of the American-Canadian Grand Lodge follow the american tradition of a covered WM.
 

Michael Hatley

Premium Member
To me, a hat needs a brim or what good is it in the sun - and I don't run cattle. I come from a ranching family and they used to make jokes about dimestore cowboys. They never wore cowboy hats. To each their own, and when you think Texas you often think cowboy hats so it makes sense - so no offense intended to the brethren that prefer them, just not my thing.

But for me, a cavalry style hat. I earned the right to wear that the hard way and it is my way of giving a nod to the veterans in the room.
 

Brent Heilman

Premium Member
I think the cavalry hat would be awesome. You did earn that right and I think every veteran would appreciate it. I couldn't do that though, I would be stuck with the dixie cup.
 

MarkR

Premium Member
I'm just glad I'm not in a jurisdiction that requires one of these: 3028Mweb.jpg or RG100465LG.jpg
 

dfreybur

Premium Member
My first time through the east was in a lodge where the local tradition was a top hat so I wore one of them.

I have a fedora because that was a local tradition in my lodge the next time I went through the east. I finally found a three-corner hat as seen in movies about the American Revolution era but I was out of the east by the time I found it so I have not yet worn it in lodge.
 

Newwardorder

Registered User
To me, a hat needs a brim or what good is it in the sun - and I don't run cattle. I come from a ranching family and they used to make jokes about dimestore cowboys. They never wore cowboy hats. To each their own, and when you think Texas you often think cowboy hats so it makes sense - so no offense intended to the brethren that prefer them, just not my thing.

But for me, a cavalry style hat. I earned the right to wear that the hard way and it is my way of giving a nod to the veterans in the room.

Our WM in Juneau is a former Air Cav guy, and he wears his cavalry hat in the East. Very meaningful for him, and it looks good dressed up or dressed down.


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tbcrisler

Registered User
What about a bowler?
I have thought I would wear that type of hat when my turn for the East arises.....


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crono782

Premium Member
I dig bowler hats too. That's my choice should I ever sit the oriental chair.


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tbcrisler

Registered User
Well when it's my time to sit in the East,
That's what I would like to wear if my brethren allow me....


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dfreybur

Premium Member
What about a bowler?

I tried to find a bowler or derby. Fedoras in all sorts of department stores but I would have to make a special trip to downtown in a big city to find a gentlemen's shop that carried bowler or derby. Hard to find - If you have a source go for it I say!
 

JBD

Premium Member
Lots of hats are possibilities, in Texas GL law details the minimum qualifications.

Sent from my SCH-I605 using Freemasonry mobile app
 

otherstar

Registered User
I'm not a line officer, yet, but should I ever become WM, I have a wide brimmed pork pie hat. I wear it now when I'm acting as WM in a degree.

Personally, I think the sitting WM should wear whatever kind of hat he feels comfortable in, as long as it meets the requirements for the Grand Lodge. The current WM in my lodge (as of 2013-2014) wears a very nice Australian hat that strongly resembles that worn by Crocodile Dundee. He would not look good in a Western Hat (like me...they just don't work for me).
 
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Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
I decided on a fedora, and it ruffled some feathers. If nothing else, it gave the brothers something to talk about. ;)
 

Mac

Moderator
Premium Member
Why did it cause a stir? What's wrong with fedoras?


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My brother, Freemasons have spent centuries claiming "we've always done it this way." And we've also spent centuries doing things a little differently each year. It's just expected.
 
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